15 Nov 10 - Reaching out to youth is the central theme of ICT 4 All Forum Tunis+5

How can information and communications technology (ICT) help young people to enhance their skills, secure better jobs and advance their education?

It is often recognized that a country's youth are a constant source of innovative ideas. Typically, they are leaders in technology adoption too.

Therefore, a great opportunity lies in using technology to help young people improve their education and skills, and to share their ideas with others. Doing so can result in viable projects and entrepreneurial ventures that increase employment and reduce poverty around the world.

Recognizing the importance of the issue, the Tunisian Government, in cooperation with UNCTAD, has run a three-day forum on the role of ICT in creating job and education opportunities for youth.

The event, ICT 4 All Forum Tunis+5, took place in Hammamet, Tunisia, from 10 to 12 November 2010. It was the fifth annual follow-up event to the World Summit on the Information Society held in Tunis in 2005.

"By giving young people the chance to improve their livelihoods through ICT, a whole generation could be given a better chance to escape poverty," remarked UNCTAD's Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Petko Draganov, speaking at the opening ceremony.

The Forum was an opportunity for a number of one-on-one meetings for representatives of governments, the media and the private sector, and for the signing of cooperation partnerships and agreements.